The Raymond CorporationP.O. Box 130Greene, NY 13778-0130Toll free 1 (800) 235-7200Fax 1 (607) 656-9005

www.raymondcorp.com

EASi ™, Raymond, SmartSites and Reach-Fork® are U.S. trademarks of The Raymond

Corporation. Above. And beyond. is a U.S. service mark.

© 1999 The Raymond Corporation, Greene, NY. Printed in USA.

SICH-0009 MDL300-10

Because You Drive the Design

In the same way that a craftsman reaches

for quality tools, drivers are drawn to

well-designed lift trucks.

Fig. 1 – Occurrence of visual focal events around a reach truck

Studies in ergonomics by authorities such

as Cornell University and the Journal of

Biomedical Engineering have shown that

increasing the operator's comfort provides

quantifiable business benefits in the form of:

• Higher productivity.

• Improved health and energy levels.

• Reduced absence from work.

• Increased job satisfaction.

Twisting muscles, repetitive motions and

restrictive work areas can contribute to a

variety of common work related stress injuries.

The challenge today is to choose equipment

that puts the efficiency and comfort of the

operator first, and eliminate poorly designed

equipment that may be counter-productive

or even harmful to the operator.

Drivers Face the Task – Rack Interface RequirementsA reach truck’s primary function is theplacement and removal of pallets within a racksystem. With only inches between locations,storing and retrieving pallets is precision work – especially with today’s higher cycle rates and lift height requirements. Studies show that a reach truck operator's visual focus is facing the forks 51% of the time, with themost time (39%) spent facing full-forward andlifting. The operator’s visual focus is facingtractor-forward 47% of the time (Fig. 1). Visualfocus immediately to the left and right of thetruck occurs just 2% of the time.

Thus, most drivers operate trucks with their head and shoulders facing squarely inthe direction of the task to be performed.The “universal” or “fore and aft” operationalstance provides the clearest, most comfortableview of the load, rack and truck direction.This may be one reason why 4 out of 5drivers in national competitions chooseRaymond® reach trucks, which are designed for the universal stance.

Front and Center to the LoadBecause a reach truck is designed primarily to interface with pallets and racking, beingsquare to the load has its advantages. Withoutsignificantly turning or twisting the neck andupper body, the driver of a universal stancereach truck is able to work in the racks andstill maintain a view of activity up and downthe aisles (Fig. 4). Drivers of sidestance truckshave a limited view of activity to the rightside of the truck, which is behind the driver,even when turning the head fully to the leftor right (Fig. 5). And repeatedly turning thehead left or right, out of the ergonomicallyneutral position, for long periods of time maycause damage to soft muscle tissues in theneck and back. This is especially harmfulwhen twisting and looking upward at loads.

STANDING UP FOR PRODUCTIVITY

Truck to Task? Or Task to Truck?

51%

47%

4

2

1

7

12 12

7

1

2

439

9

Operators face forward a majority of the time. While sidestance designs are an option, the best sellingreach truck in North Americacontinues to be Raymond’suniversal stance (fore/aftfacing) Reach-Fork® truck.

Noonan, Tom. Ergonomic and Reach Truck Applications.The Raymond Corporation (1994)

Noonan, Tom. So Why do we Stand?The Raymond Corporation (1998)

Eklund, Jorgen, et. al. Head posture measurements amongwork vehicle drivers and implications for work and workplacedesign. Ergonomics, Vol 37, No. 4. pp. 623-639 (1994)

“ 4 o u t o f 5 d r i v e r s i n n a t i o n a lr o d e o c o m p e t i t i o n s p r e f e rR a y m o n d r e a c h t r u c k s . ”

A

E

B

C

D

●A High visibility mast.

The mast design

provides a superior

view of the load,

forktips, and racking.

B Mobile work station.

A user-friendly

truck means a more

productive operator.

Every task is less than

an arm’s length away.

●C Three-tier comfort.

Special design features

reduce shocks and

sways, cushion feet,

and provide multiple

lean points with

plenty of foot

and leg room.

●D Natural step height.

9” step height

helps minimize

operator fatigue.

●E Logical, intuitive control.

Raymond’s control

handle works simply

and logically on a

single axis: push

forward and the

truck moves forward;

pull back and the

truck reverses.

“I have been using Raymond® reach trucks for

20 years. The fore and aft stance and all the

controls at your finger tips make Raymond

easier to use.”

– Jeff, British Columbia

“I look at the long term effects on the user.

The operators say they like the smoother ride,

lower step height, and all-in-one controls.

These make Raymond’s trucks easier to use.”

– Larry, Oklahoma

“The controls give you good hand, arm, and

wrist support while operating. This reduces

operator fatigue.”

– John, Tennessee

“The speed of the truck and the ability to

operate the controls with one hand make

them safe and productive. The operators

feel the trucks move smoothly. They are

not as fatigued because of the good ride.”

– Jeff, North Carolina

“Raymond is by far the most user friendly.

Raymond is more comfortable on the feet

than other models. Less pressure is needed

to operate the deadman. You don’t get

cramps in the arches of your feet.

– Jimmy, California

“The fore and aft stance is a great feature.”

– Jim, Illinois

“The all-in-one control handle allows

operators to perform multiple functions at

the same time. The ride is smoother, therefore

operators get less back and leg strain.”

– Norman, Ontario

A b o v e . A n d b e y o n d .™

SmartSites™

Ergonomic bro 8/1/01 10:32 AM Page 1

Potentially Harmful Compound Muscle Movements Standing front and center to the task

helps operators avoid potentially harmful

compound muscle movements, such as

twisting the neck while tilting the head

back to look up (Fig. 2). Compound

movements are commonly used when

operating sidestance and seated-operation

reach trucks, and increase the likelihood

of injury or cumulative stress trauma.

Sitting Sideways Increases the Possibility of Neck Injury

Reach trucks are heavy equipment and, as with other heavy equipment, the optimumorientation of the operator is facing the task to be done. Tractors, earth-moving equipment,cranes and sit-down counterbalance forklifttrucks are all designed to face the operator in the direction of the primary work activity.

Drivers working on seated sidestancelift trucks report shoulder and neck problems more than three times asoften as operators of Raymond's classic universalstance trucks.*

Drivers who are forced to remain seated

while working sideways limit motion to the

upper body. The effect on the body is similar

to sitting sideways while working at a

computer. Seated operation of a sidestance

truck also restricts the driver's ability to

move around to see both the load and

pedestrians. To increase visibility, operators

seated sideways must turn and stretch neck

muscles. Backrests on the driver’s seat

restrict movement and their position

sometimes places the driver behind the

mast upright, further restricting visibility.

Standing is the OptimalWorking PositionBecause reach truck operators are required to

get off and on a reach truck as often as once for

every pallet moved, standing is the optimal

working position. The Raymond EASi™ reach

truck’s low step-height allows easier on/off

of the truck, reducing operator fatigue. Stand-

up operation also allows eye, head, torso and

hip rotation, as well as stance adjustment to

meet the task (Fig. 6).

Flexible, Comfortable, Efficient VisibilityThe large, roomy operator's compartment,

standard on all Raymond stand-up reach

trucks, provides operators with plenty of

space in which to move around, adjust stance,

or lean throughout the work day – minimizing

harmful twisting motions and increasing

visibility. Operators can turn around to fully

face the direction of travel, whether traveling

tractor- or forks-first. By turning the whole

body slightly, operators can also increase

peripheral visibility.

Raymond offers Dockstance reach trucks to

provide an ergonomic alternative for those

who are accustomed to sidestance operation.

Raymond’s Dockstance trucks allow a wider

variety of positions than traditional sidestance

trucks, and the location of the truck mast

permits a clear view between the uprights

and along the side of the mast (Fig. 6).

“Lift truck ergonomics means minimizingpotentially harmful muscle movementsand increasing operator comfort.”

Muscles moving in multipledirections, side-to-side andup-and-down at the sametime, increase the likelihood of injury or trauma.

“Increasing operator comfortresults in higher productivity and reduced absenteeism.”

Three Tier Design Wraps the Operator in Comfort

Operators may spend eight to ten

hours a day in their trucks. The operator's

compartment—which is often equipped

with computer displays, RF terminals

and clipboards—should be roomy and

absorb shocks. But most importantly,

it should be stable.

Raymond’s unique

three-tier design provides

operator comfort

throughout the day.

The first tier of comfort

is provided by a built-in

spring suspension and

a patented inertial dampener which reduce

shocks and sways before they reach the

operator's compartment. The second tier,

a thick, impact-absorbing floor cushion,

provides shift-long comfort for the operator's

feet. Finally, the third tier is provided by

a secure wrap-around compartment that

offers multiple lean points plus generous

foot and leg room.

SAE and ASME tests

for comparative ride

quality corroborate

the three tier

design as less

fatiguing for

operators.

Single Axis vs. Four Quadrant ControlsReach truck operators rely on the truck’s

controls for almost every aspect of their work.

The controls should permit simultaneous

functions, such as travel, lift and lower, reach

and retract, tilt, side-shift, and warning horn.

Logically, the controls should be easy to learn,

intuitively operated and responsive. Because of

the repetitive nature of operating any vehicle,

including lift trucks, good ergonomic design

is critical to avoid repetitive motion injuries.

Raymond reach trucks reduce repetitive

motions through the ergonomic design and

use of the single-axis control handle. Shaped

to fit the natural contours of the hand, the

Raymond control handle is moved by

pushing or pulling the whole arm and hand,

rather than twisting or rotating the hand,

wrist, elbow, or shoulders. This “whole arm

motion” eliminates repetitive motions in the

wrist commonly linked to carpal tunnel

syndrome (Fig. 7).

In addition, the single axis design of

Raymond’s control handle does not require

any movement from side to side. A single

axis control handle requires less effort to

operate than a four quadrant control handle,

which requires pushing and pulling in four

directions. When inadequate body stability

is also a factor, lack of support to the operator's

hand and arm when operating a four quadrant

control handle may also stress the wrist and

shoulders, because hand muscle tension is

needed in all four directions (Fig. 8). Travel

Travel

Rack Interface

Fig. 4 – Universal stance enables operatorsto see in the direction of travel, reducingthe chance of blind spots and providingmaximum visibility up or down the aisle.Raymond's universal stance providessuperior visibility to the load and aisle.

Fig. 5 – Sidestance designs increase blind spots up and down the aisle.

Travel

Rack Interface

Travel

Fig. 2 – Compound movements

Fig. 3 – Singular stance

Fig. 6 – The large, roomy operator compartments, with comfortable lean points standard on all Raymond reachtrucks, enable frequent change of stance for increased comfort and visibility. Ample room to frequently changestance and position has been proven to minimize operator fatigue – resulting in increased productivity.

Raymond's single axis controlhandle combines stableoperation with controls thatoperate in a logical manner.Push forward and the truckmoves forward. Pull back, the truck reverses. Note below(Fig. 8) how 4-axis movementrequires rolling, pushing, andpulling in four directions.

Fig. 7 – Single Axis Control

Fig. 8 – Four Quadrant Control

Visibility Visibility

Universal stance reach truckdrivers can view upper racklocations without using compoundmuscle movements (Fig. 3).

* Eklund, Jorgen, et. al. Head posture measurements amongwork vehicle drivers and implications for work and workplacedesign. Ergonomics, Vol 37, No. 4. pp. 623-639 (1994)

DOCKSTANCE

UNIVERSAL STANCE

Ergonomic bro 8/1/01 10:32 AM Page 3

The Raymond CorporationP.O. Box 130Greene, NY 13778-0130Toll free 1 (800) 235-7200Fax 1 (607) 656-9005

www.raymondcorp.com

EASi ™, Raymond, SmartSites and Reach-Fork® are U.S. trademarks of The Raymond

Corporation. Above. And beyond. is a U.S. service mark.

© 1999 The Raymond Corporation, Greene, NY. Printed in USA.

SICH-0009 MDL300-10

Because You Drive the Design

In the same way that a craftsman reaches

for quality tools, drivers are drawn to

well-designed lift trucks.

Fig. 1 – Occurrence of visual focal events around a reach truck

Studies in ergonomics by authorities such

as Cornell University and the Journal of

Biomedical Engineering have shown that

increasing the operator's comfort provides

quantifiable business benefits in the form of:

• Higher productivity.

• Improved health and energy levels.

• Reduced absence from work.

• Increased job satisfaction.

Twisting muscles, repetitive motions and

restrictive work areas can contribute to a

variety of common work related stress injuries.

The challenge today is to choose equipment

that puts the efficiency and comfort of the

operator first, and eliminate poorly designed

equipment that may be counter-productive

or even harmful to the operator.

Drivers Face the Task – Rack Interface RequirementsA reach truck’s primary function is theplacement and removal of pallets within a racksystem. With only inches between locations,storing and retrieving pallets is precision work – especially with today’s higher cycle rates and lift height requirements. Studies show that a reach truck operator's visual focus is facing the forks 51% of the time, with themost time (39%) spent facing full-forward andlifting. The operator’s visual focus is facingtractor-forward 47% of the time (Fig. 1). Visualfocus immediately to the left and right of thetruck occurs just 2% of the time.

Thus, most drivers operate trucks with their head and shoulders facing squarely inthe direction of the task to be performed.The “universal” or “fore and aft” operationalstance provides the clearest, most comfortableview of the load, rack and truck direction.This may be one reason why 4 out of 5drivers in national competitions chooseRaymond® reach trucks, which are designed for the universal stance.

Front and Center to the LoadBecause a reach truck is designed primarily to interface with pallets and racking, beingsquare to the load has its advantages. Withoutsignificantly turning or twisting the neck andupper body, the driver of a universal stancereach truck is able to work in the racks andstill maintain a view of activity up and downthe aisles (Fig. 4). Drivers of sidestance truckshave a limited view of activity to the rightside of the truck, which is behind the driver,even when turning the head fully to the leftor right (Fig. 5). And repeatedly turning thehead left or right, out of the ergonomicallyneutral position, for long periods of time maycause damage to soft muscle tissues in theneck and back. This is especially harmfulwhen twisting and looking upward at loads.

STANDING UP FOR PRODUCTIVITY

Truck to Task? Or Task to Truck?

51%

47%

4

2

1

7

12 12

7

1

2

439

9

Operators face forward a majority of the time. While sidestance designs are an option, the best sellingreach truck in North Americacontinues to be Raymond’suniversal stance (fore/aftfacing) Reach-Fork® truck.

Noonan, Tom. Ergonomic and Reach Truck Applications.The Raymond Corporation (1994)

Noonan, Tom. So Why do we Stand?The Raymond Corporation (1998)

Eklund, Jorgen, et. al. Head posture measurements amongwork vehicle drivers and implications for work and workplacedesign. Ergonomics, Vol 37, No. 4. pp. 623-639 (1994)

“ 4 o u t o f 5 d r i v e r s i n n a t i o n a lr o d e o c o m p e t i t i o n s p r e f e rR a y m o n d r e a c h t r u c k s . ”

A

E

B

C

D

●A High visibility mast.

The mast design

provides a superior

view of the load,

forktips, and racking.

B Mobile work station.

A user-friendly

truck means a more

productive operator.

Every task is less than

an arm’s length away.

●C Three-tier comfort.

Special design features

reduce shocks and

sways, cushion feet,

and provide multiple

lean points with

plenty of foot

and leg room.

●D Natural step height.

9” step height

helps minimize

operator fatigue.

●E Logical, intuitive control.

Raymond’s control

handle works simply

and logically on a

single axis: push

forward and the

truck moves forward;

pull back and the

truck reverses.

“I have been using Raymond® reach trucks for

20 years. The fore and aft stance and all the

controls at your finger tips make Raymond

easier to use.”

– Jeff, British Columbia

“I look at the long term effects on the user.

The operators say they like the smoother ride,

lower step height, and all-in-one controls.

These make Raymond’s trucks easier to use.”

– Larry, Oklahoma

“The controls give you good hand, arm, and

wrist support while operating. This reduces

operator fatigue.”

– John, Tennessee

“The speed of the truck and the ability to

operate the controls with one hand make

them safe and productive. The operators

feel the trucks move smoothly. They are

not as fatigued because of the good ride.”

– Jeff, North Carolina

“Raymond is by far the most user friendly.

Raymond is more comfortable on the feet

than other models. Less pressure is needed

to operate the deadman. You don’t get

cramps in the arches of your feet.

– Jimmy, California

“The fore and aft stance is a great feature.”

– Jim, Illinois

“The all-in-one control handle allows

operators to perform multiple functions at

the same time. The ride is smoother, therefore

operators get less back and leg strain.”

– Norman, Ontario

A b o v e . A n d b e y o n d .™

SmartSites™

Ergonomic bro 8/1/01 10:32 AM Page 1